Hyatt works towards removing single use plastics

The Hyatt hotel group is following other hotels paths and is moving from single-use plastics, as well as using more glass in its hotels.

Water bottles at the Hyatt Amsterdam, inviting you to water the plants with the lefover water – Image, Hyatt

The group is implementing three changes to reduce its plastic bottle usage

• Transitioning to large-format bathroom amenities to replace traditional small bottles of shower gel, shampoo, conditioner and lotion.
• Increasing the number of water stations in key public spaces at hotels for guests who wish to refill reusable water bottles
• Serving water in carafes or other containers for meetings and events; bottled water will be available by request

The hotel group aims to remove these plastics by June 2021.

According to the release “Transitioning to large-format bathroom amenities and reducing single-use water bottles builds on Hyatt’s broader commitment to reduce disposables and select environmentally preferable options whenever possible, with the exception of when single-use bottles are needed for water quality reasons”.

The group has made efforts to replacing plastics in hotels already, by removing plastic straws, increasing the use of compostable, recyclable, or recycled content packaging for to-go food containers.

Some properties have worked on reducing plastics, but again – this work will need to be replicated on a larger scale throughout the group to deliver the lower plastic use it desires.

In quotes

Mark Hoplamazian, president and CEO, Hyatt states

“At Hyatt, our purpose – we care for people so they can be their best – guides all business decisions, including our global sustainability framework, which focuses on using resources responsibly and helping address today’s most pressing environmental issues,”

“Plastic pollution is a global issue, and we hope our efforts will motivate guests, customers and, indeed, ourselves to think more critically about our use of plastic.” 

Reuse, recycle… and reduce costs

The move away from plastics is a welcome one (and one I would have loved at the Hyatt I was at a few weeks ago). Ensuring high-quality products are in the large format containers could be a winning move – not just in the plastic saved, but the cost saved for using large format items versus small consumables.

Current Hyatt Regency amenities. Count those bottles out – Image, Economy Class and Beyond 

And Hyatt is not alone in this move – IHG has begun the move, as have others (Something the lower end of the market has a lead on for some years – Ibis, Travelodge and Premier Inn are a few that have gone down that path.).

The water initiative is also a welcome step forward – as filtered water has a negligible cost once the systems are installed.

As hotels try to reduce their plastic waste and reduce costs, more concepts can come to the fore to deliver solutions that won’t negatively impact on the guest experience – yet reduce waste.

And I look forward to seeing how hotels can innovate.